How Much Does a Texas Drivers License Cost? DPS Fees

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

If you are asking how much does a Texas drivers license cost, the DPS fee for a new license is $33 at ages 18 to 84, and the license lasts eight years. The required ITAD video is free. Your other costs depend on your choices: an adult driver education course priced by each provider if you are 18 to 24, and a third-party driving test fee if you test with a school.

Key Facts

New license: $33 at ages 18 to 84, expiring after eight years. See the DPS fee table.
Admin fee: a $1 administrative fee is already included in the listed amounts. See the $1 fee.
ITAD: free from DPS. See costs beyond the DPS fee.
Course and school fees: set by providers and schools, not by DPS. See costs beyond the DPS fee.
Paying again: after 90 days or three failed exams, you need a new application and fee. See when you pay again.

How Much Does a Texas Drivers License Cost at DPS

The DPS Driver License Fees page sets the price for each card. Here are the amounts that matter for a first license or ID.

Card	Age	DPS fee	How long it lasts
New driver license	Under 18	$16	Until the 18th birthday
New driver license	18 to 84	$33	Eight years
New driver license	85 and older	$9	Two years
New ID card	59 and younger	$16	Six years
New ID card	60 and older	$6	Six years

For a first adult license under age 85, the line that applies is $33. It covers a license that “Expires after eight years.”

The under-18 row is for teens, so adults start at the $33 line. A replacement license costs $11. Its expiration date stays the same as the card it replaces.

What the $33 Covers

The fee is paid once per application. The DPS apply page lists what happens at the office around it:

Your thumbprints, signature and photo.
The vision exam.
The knowledge test and the driving skills test.
A temporary license once you pass.

DPS then mails the card. It says the card “will typically arrive by mail within 2-3 weeks.”

Renewal Later On

The same $33 price applies at renewal for ages 18 to 84. DPS says a renewed license runs eight years from the prior expiration date.

The $1 Administrative Fee

You will not pay an extra dollar on top of these prices. The DPS page says, “A $1 administrative fee is included in the following fee amounts.”

That fee applies to in-person transactions. DPS says it is not charged for transactions by mail. A first license is an in-person visit, so the listed price is what you pay.

Costs Beyond the DPS Fee

The DPS fee is only one part of the total. Here is what else may apply, and who sets each price:

ITAD. The ITAD FAQ says, “ITAD is offered by the Department free of charge.”
Adult driver education. Required at ages 18 to 24. Each TDLR-licensed provider sets its own price, and Texas does not set one.
Third-party driving test. Optional. The DPS third-party testing page says fees for a drive test given by a school “are not regulated by the Department.”
A test vehicle. The car you test in must have valid registration and insurance.

We do not list course prices here. They vary by provider and are not set by any state agency. Our adult driver education cost guide explains what to compare.

Steps to add up the cost of a first Texas driver license, from the DPS fee to optional school fees

Questions to Ask a Third-Party School

DPS certifies driver education schools to give the driving test, but not their prices. Before you book, ask the school:

What is the fee for the drive test?
What papers do you need from me? DPS lists an ADE-1317 for ages 18 to 24 and an ITAD certificate for all adults.
Is my ITAD certificate recent enough? DPS says it must be dated within 90 days before the test.

Our third-party testing guide explains the program.

A Sample Total

Here is a simple way to add up your own cost, using the official numbers.

Age 20, testing at DPS:

DPS license fee: $33.
ITAD: $0.
Adult course: the provider’s price.
Total: $33 plus the course price.

Age 30, testing with a third-party school:

DPS license fee: $33.
ITAD: $0.
Adult course: not required.
Driving test: the school’s fee.
Total: $33 plus the school’s fee.

Your real total changes only with the choices you make. The DPS part stays at $33 for ages 18 to 84.

When You Pay Again

One fee covers more than one attempt. Transportation Code § 521.161 allows three attempts at each exam per application and fee.

The Texas Driver Handbook sets two limits. If you do not pass the knowledge and driving exams on your first attempt, “your application will be held for 90 days.” The handbook adds, “After 90 days or three failed exams, a new application and fee will be required.”

Here is what that means for cost:

Pass within three tries and 90 days: one $33 fee.
Fail three times: a new application and a new fee.
Pass after 90 days have passed: a new application and a new fee.

A failed ITAD timing can also add work, though not cost. ITAD is free, but its certificate is only good for 90 days.

Costs That Come From Timing

Some rules cost time or extra tests rather than money:

An expired ITAD certificate. You take ITAD again. It is free, but it takes another hour.
An old course certificate. Under DPS rule 37 TAC 15.55, applicants under 25 with a certificate dated two or more years back get no exams waived.
A late arrival. DPS cancels the appointment if you are more than 30 minutes late, and you book again.

None of these adds a DPS fee by itself. Each one can still push you toward the 90-day limit.

Paying at the Office

DPS says driver license offices accept credit cards, cash, checks, money orders and tap-to-pay. That includes Apple Pay and Google Pay.

The DPS appointments page says credit cards are preferred. Personal checks, money orders and cashier’s checks must be for the exact amount.

Fees at 25 and Older

Turning 25 does not change the DPS fee. It is still $33 for ages 18 to 84.

What changes is the course. DPS lists no driver education requirement at 25 and older, so there is no course fee unless you choose one. Our over-25 guide covers that path.

Costs for New Residents and Non-Citizens

New residents with a valid out-of-state license pay the DPS fee for their Texas license. Vehicle registration is a separate matter handled by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Our new residents guide covers that path.

Some non-citizens receive a limited-term license. The DPS fee page lists it at $33 for temporary visitors. It expires when lawful presence ends, or in one year for “duration of status.” See our guide for immigrants.

Fee Exemptions

DPS lists one group that may pay nothing. Disabled veterans with a 60 percent rating may get a new license free, subject to the exemption rules on the DPS page.

If you think you qualify, read the DPS fee page before your visit. Bring any proof DPS asks for.

The fee page lists no other waiver for a new adult license. The only age-based break is the lower $9 fee at 85 and older, which comes with a two-year license.

License or ID: Comparing the Cost

An ID card costs less than a new license at every adult age on the DPS list. It is $16 at age 59 and younger and $6 at 60 and older.

You cannot hold both, though. The DPS REAL ID page says Texas law permits “a driver license or identification card, but not both.” If you have a Texas ID, you surrender it when you apply for a license.

Our license vs ID guide compares the two.

Comparing Course Prices

If you are 18 to 24, the course is the one cost you choose. Since Texas sets no price, compare what each course must and may include:

TDLR license. Check the provider with TDLR’s provider search.
The knowledge test. Ask whether the course gives the highway sign and traffic law test that can count at DPS.
Certificate timing. Online providers must issue it by the 15th working day after you finish.

Every approved course meets the same floor, whatever it costs. TDLR rules set 360 minutes in all, with at least 330 minutes of instruction.

Each course tests highway signs and traffic laws. Under 16 TAC 84.43, a provider may issue the ADE-1317 only to students who finish the course.

A higher or lower price does not change those rules. Pick the course that fits your schedule and checks out with TDLR.

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the DPS fee page we checked on October 26, 2026, a new license at ages 18 to 84 was $33. The page said a $1 administrative fee was included in the listed amounts.

The third-party testing page said school drive test fees were not regulated by DPS. The ITAD FAQ said ITAD was free.

The fee page also listed a $16 learner license for drivers under 18. It said offices take tap-to-pay, including Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Summary card of the events that change what you pay for a Texas license

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Each item comes from a DPS page or the handbook:

Adding $1 to the fee. The admin fee is already included.
Paying for ITAD. DPS offers it free of charge.
Writing a check for the wrong amount. DPS wants the exact amount.
Letting 90 days pass. After that, a new application and fee are required.
Assuming DPS caps school test fees. DPS does not regulate them.
Paying a school before checking it. DPS lists certified testing schools by county on its school list.
Paying for an unlicensed course. Check the provider with TDLR first.

How Requirements Can Vary

Texas driver license rules come from state law, Texas DPS rules and TDLR rules, and they apply statewide. What you need still depends on your age, whether you hold a license from another state, and which tests you have already passed.

Laws, fees and office procedures can change. Check the Texas DPS and TDLR websites for current rules before you book an appointment or enroll in a course.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a first Texas driver license?

DPS charges $33 for a new license at ages 18 to 84. It expires after eight years.

Is ITAD free?

Yes. The ITAD FAQ says DPS offers it free of charge.

How much does the adult driver education course cost?

Each TDLR-licensed provider sets its own price. Texas does not set one, so compare providers.

Do I pay again if I fail the driving test?

Not right away. One fee covers three attempts, but after 90 days or three failed exams, DPS requires a new application and fee.

How much is a replacement license?

DPS charges $11 for a replacement. The expiration date stays the same.

Is the $1 admin fee extra?

No. DPS says the $1 administrative fee is already included in the listed fees.

How much does a third-party driving test cost?

Each school sets its own fee. DPS says it does not regulate those fees.

How much is a Texas ID card?

A new ID card is $16 at age 59 and younger and $6 at 60 and older. It lasts six years.

Conclusion

The DPS fee for a first Texas license is $33 at ages 18 to 84, and ITAD costs nothing. Course and third-party test prices are set by providers and schools, so compare them before you pay.

Pass within three tries and 90 days to avoid a second fee. If you are 18 to 24, you can review Driving Logic’s online Texas adult driver education course.

Sources

Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, a state-approved driver improvement course provider serving Texas and other U.S. states.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Texas driver license and driver education rules are set by Texas law, Texas DPS and TDLR, and they can change. Check the official DPS and TDLR websites for current requirements before you apply.